While competitors continue to struggle with spiraling healthcare costs, Aetna and CVS are celebrating an 8.4% increase in second-quarter revenues. The insurer is achieving this through nimble management and making tough decisions, said David Joyner, president and CEO of CVS Health. In a conference call with Wall Street analysts, Joyner explained how CVS is transforming Aetna via technology. 'We enhanced our operations using technology to automate and streamline processes that improve service and reduce friction for our members and healthcare professionals,' he said. 'We're starting to see the results of these efforts delivering better experiences while also allowing us to better navigate this elevated utilization environment.'
AbsoluteCare, which specializes in value-based integrated healthcare, has secured $135 million in equity financing from four investors: CVS Health Ventures, Kinderhook Industries, Pacific Life and Lexington Partners. This funding bolsters AbsoluteCare's ability to improve operations and expand into new markets and serve new member populations, the company said.
By subtly tweaking classic medical dilemmas, researchers revealed that large language models often default to familiar or intuitive answers, even when they contradict the facts. These “fast thinking” failures expose troubling blind spots that could have real consequences in clinical decision-making.
At her confirmation hearing before the Senate on July 9, Susan Monarez garnered praise from the Republican chairman, Sen. Bill Cassidy, who is a physician, for her commitment to rebuilding public trust in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Democrats grilled her about the impact of cuts in federal funding for health programs and medical research, and expressed concern about the CDC's role under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Here's a quick synopsis of her thoughts on key issues.
Mass General Brigham is partnering with IBM on the project, which feels particularly relevant this week as the Boston area and many other parts of the country swelter in a haze of humidity and high heat. A heat advisory in effect through Wednesday for thousands of New England residents warns it could feel as hot as 95-103 degrees. The basic idea is to intervene before extreme heat takes a severe toll on people's health.
Children may be more likely to survive a rare, potentially fatal influenza complication if they receive rapid treatment for brain swelling and extreme immune responses, a Stanford Medicine-led report found.